Variegated surface and display material and device



Feb. 5, 1935. A. E. TAYLOR 1,990,421

VARIEGATED SURIFAGE'r AND DISPLAY MATERIAL AND DEVICE Filed March 31, 1934 f71venor y u /2 @Q75 HQ E. 7215/702' NETE@ STATES VARIEGATED SURFACE AND DISPLAY.

MATERIAL AND DEVICE Aubrey Evelyn Taylor, Malvern, vMelbourne,

,Australia Appiieation Marchal, i994, serial No. 718,483 In Australia `lvlly 23, 1932 11 Claims. (Cl. L11b-24k) ar ortica VThis invention relates principally to variegated Figure 1 is a view showing parallel lines crossed surfaces, particularly when produced as printed at right angles intended to be printed in a pluartistic matter, in imitation of textiles, knitted rality of different bands of colour` A, B, C, by one goods and the like, for use in advertising-on impression of the printers block.

5 street hoardings in conjunction with known dis- Figure 2 is a view showing parallel lines crossed 5 play devices, signs and apparatus, or as original at right angles intended tobe printed iirst ina signs, and generally for ornamental and display plurality of different bands of colour A, B, C,7 by purposes. one impression of the printers block and thento The invention may be applied to many purposes be printed with a plurality of diierent bands of l as, for example, to simple or complex illustracolour D, E, F, at right angles to the bands A, B, l0 tions printed on paper .or the like when in- C, by another impression of the printers block. numerablevariations, patterns or designs, colour Figure 3 is a View showing parallel lines of difefiects, contrasts and shot-like effects may be ferent conformation or contour which when overreadily obtained. Paper printed in accordance printed in suitable different colours cause a third l5 with the invention is particularly useful in the unprinted colour to apparently appear inthe l5 manufacture of cartons and packages for goods. interstices between the overprinted lines.

The invention, however, may also beemployedwith Figure 4 is a view showing parallel crinkly or advantage in preparing street advertising hoardwavy lines which when associated or over-printed ings and painted signs when dilerent colour by straight, sinuous, or other lines of appropriate eiects may easily be produced, dependent upon pitch or conformation and distance apart form 20 the direction of approach and/or the station patterns ordesigns resembling knitted goods or point of the observer. In this connection the intextiles and the like. vention provides a distinct advantage in that in Figure 5 is a view of a surface printedl with its ordinary application it provides a sign or illusparallel sinuous lines crossed at right angles.

tration which will more frequently be required, The invention is directed to the production of 25 that is a sign which varies in colour when viewed Variegated surfaces through the provision of from different angles but appears multi-coloured printing a sheet with an arrangement of substanwhen viewed frontally and which always maintially parallel lines of any desired characteristics tains its outline and lis clearly readable as and and over-printing the initial lines withother remains the same sign, or matter, regardless lines of desired characteristics in contour, colour, 30 of the observers position. The invention posspacing and the like to 'provide a patterned sursesses the advantage that it obtains these effects face, together with an embossing of the patterned and advantages on one surface and/or on one surface with furtherlines of desired characterelement when so desired and under suitable or istics in contour, spacing and the like, all

appropriate conditions of usage. lines having such relationship `that apparent 35 More specifically one of the principal objects movement and changes in colour and pattern of the invention is to` provide methods of ernwill occur as the observer changes his viewpoint. bossing printed matter to cause patterns to appear Figures 1 and 2 Yshow straight lines 12a after printing and also colour changes in the crossed at right angles. Figure 5 shows sinuous patterns when the material is viewed from diflines 12b crossed at yapproximately right angles. 40 ferent stand points, and this object may be From printers blocks bearing `these simple ar,- achieved by colour printing by several successive rangements of lines innumerable different de-` impressions or by multi-colour printing by one signs or patterns may be obtained which ydo not impression and then in either instance impartresemble the lined appearance of the blocks and 4* ing a different pattern or design and/or colour which may radically diier from each other in 45 eects to the printed matter by embossing it in appearance. A surface printed with a' lined block' accordance with the invention. In somev inmay be returned and over-printed bythe same stances. however, embossing in accordance with block at an angle thereto, -that is the printed surthe invention may be undesirable, for example, face is applied to the block at an angle thereto 00 in some cases of printing in accordance with the when the second or over-printing is being made. 50

invention to imitate textiles, knitted goods, The patterning and/or colour effects which rehosiery and the like when suitable graining or sult are surprising and the new pattern obtained a paper of roughened surface may be used to will appear and be repeated over the whole surenhance the printed eiiect if necessary, face corresponding to the number of times the Referring to the drawing; lines cross each other, that is, dependent upon of the over-print, that is the angle between the line printed surface and the block when the second or over-printing is made. Similarly a straight linedA block having simple lines in one direction, when used horizontally to over-print a surface printed from a block having sinuousv lines, will with lines of a similar width, produce a pronounced wavy pattern` No angular relationship between the over-printing block andthe lined sheet iirst printed is required in this case but the lines will require to both be arranged horizontally as previously mentioned. Nevertheless a printed surface may be over-printed at anV angle to either of the blocks to obtain variation. Sinuous lined blocks, as in Fig. 5, may be used individually or in conjunction to produce lacelike patterns by over-printing and entirely diic-rent patterns may be obtained by varying the printing angles as above indicated and by using blocks having sinuous lines the corrugations of which are of different length or pitch. ll'he numberY of diierent patterns obtainable from a few blocks-bearing simple lines is remarkable and the colourv effects obtainable are` surprising. Blocks having comparatively complex line patterns thereon and different line contours and complicated line designs may of course be used: simple lines have been used herein for clearness.- Figure 4 shows crinkly lines 12d which, whether used as shownorcrossed at right angles or otherwise, by over-printing in conjunction with straight lines, such as are shown in Figures `l and 2; or in conjunction with sinuous lines, such as are shown in Figure 5, of appropriate spacing or pitch, will produce step-like straight-or waved patterns resembling or strongly suggesting knitted goods,Y hosiery and the like and accordingly very useful with'appropriate printed matter and inillustrations of such goods.V Patterned paper printed by lined blocks rin the manner herein-indicated is particularly useiul'for covering cartons and the like and. printed stocks of papers, embossed or unembossed,` may always bechanged to a different pattern simply by-an additional printing with one ofV the blocks already used in. its. production, appliedat an appropriate angle, or by the use of another. appropriate block. Such papers also may possess an appearance of texture and if necessarymay be roughened or grained by known apparatus-to enhance their appearance, particularly when textile goods are. being imitated. The eiectof. embossing patterned papers such as those above described with parallel or substantially parallel lines, angularly or otherwise applied, is to introduce further patternszand/or eects. In simple. explanation of this it may be assumed thatapaperprintedwith the line arrangement shown inFigure 5. has been embossed with appropriate straight lines applied diagonally: when viewedfrontally the line-arrangement seen in Figure -5 alone-willV be seen'but when angularly viewed a tortuous pattern is clearly seen. Obviously-any appropriate embossment may be used on any of the printed papers whether of simple or. complex pattern and remarkable results inV patterning and/or colour change may be obtained. But change of appearance is not always desirable, in some textile imitations or resemblances for example, and embossing must accordingly be made with due regard to circumstances and results required. It should also be understood that over-printing a line printed surface with an arrangement or llines produces a pattern which if not embossed according to this invention remains unchanged when viewed frontally or angularly. If, however, the surface as iirst printed is embossed with lines corresponding with the second printing, the embossment being made in lieu of the second printing, the surface"will remain unchanged and will appear as when rst printed when viewed frontally but when viewed angularly the pattern caused by the embossment will be seen and this pattern will correspond with that which would be produced by the second or overprinting referred to. The embossing block or plate, further may `in some circumstances be iirst inked and thereby function in a dual capacity. A surface printed :in one colour from a block havingjan' arrangement of lines such as that shown in Figures 1 and 2 if embossed with an appropriate embossing pla-te or block which has. been -inked beforehand will provide a very diierent result or appearanceto that seen, in the figures. Pyramidical embossments are hereinafter described and would be suitable to obtain a'dapplej-like effect `in the present instance but if used in the manner aboveindicated could be slightly flattened at the apex or ridges to provide an inking surface as will be hereinafter more fully understood; Anembossing blockso used 'presses the ink down into the groovesY or channels formed. Furtherfan embossing block according -to the invention, if also used as an inking blockwhen embossing, may provide a distinct variation in the pattern or form a different pattern, resulty and/or colour eiiects.

In some circumstances, such` as when aline printedsurface forms part or a block bearing solid matter or illustration, it will not be practicable to angularlyover-print to obtain line patterns inthe manner hereinbefore indicated'as exact registration of the solid or illustrative matter will be required in successive impressions. A second or additional block, however. may be used having the lines desired at the rerequired'angle so that when the line printed portion of the surface is over-printed by the second block the desired pattern will be formed-by the over-printing operation without de-aligning matter which requires exact registration. When printing ordinary illustrations in two or more colours with line patterns in accordance with the invention added asrbackgrounds, for' example, the usual colour blocks used may obviously carry desired lines at varying angles in accordance with this `invention sol that when successive impressions are made to print the coloured illustration the lined patterns desired will be formed by the crossing of the lines of each block.

Figure 3 shows a simple arrangement of lines depicted to explain colour. eiiects obtained under somecircumstances. The vertical lines 13a are crossed by-sinuous lines 13b of similarspacing- .Formed between the crossed lines or at the intersection thereof are open spaces or interstices indicated at- 13e. Now if the lines are printed in certain colours the interstices, which are unprinted, will appear to the eye to be coloured. For example ifV the vertical lines 13aV are printed with a violet ink on a white surface and overprinted withblack sinuous lines 13b the interstices 13o will appear to be coloured yellow. That portion of the vertical lines 13a which is located between the sinuous lines 13b, indicated at 13d, of course remains violet with theresult that the printed illustration appears with vertically zigzagged lines or'bars of violet and black between which are laterally located formations orbars of" yellow. In coloured patterns or designs formed in the manner hereinbefore described it is obvious that under some circumstances colour effects will be obtained without actually printing some of the colours which appear to be definitely present. Illusive colours obtained in this manner will appear on an embossed surface when viewed frontally but will not under ordinary circumstances appear when the surface is viewed angularly but nevertheless as tinges of colour, a glow, haze and/ or complementary effect may be obtained in some circumstances unprinted colours may appear to be present in an embossed line design or pattern.

To cheaply obtain colour effects suitable to certain conditions or circumstances multi-colour printing at one impression may be practised. By multi-colour printing at one impression is meant the application at one time of a plurality of bands of different colours across a printers block so that the surface printed is coloured with a plurality of bands of different colours by one impression of the block. A block may be inked with a multiplicity of bands of different colours at one time by providing an inking roller having separate peripheral ducts or channels formed therein for the several colours. The block inking roller thereby receives a series of separate peripheral bands of different coloured inks which it transfers to the block. In Figure l three bands,in dicated by the letters A, B, C, of different coloured inks are presumed to have been applied laterally across the lined surface. A printers block having a surface so lined and inked in this way, would produce a right angularly lined printed surface with its lines printed in three different coloured bands at one impression. Now if this lined multi-coloured surface isreturned to the block and over-printed at an angle thereto the lines will be caused to cross each other a number of times dependent upon the angle. In the resultant printing the coloured bands will hepatterned by the original colour of the surface, white for example, with intensification f the colours of the bands where the lines over-lap or cross. A dappled effect is obtained in the present illustrative instance and because of the crossed lines the surface possesses an overall texture-like appearance. The patterns obtained in this way, of course, depend upon the contours of the lines and the number of times the pattern is repeated depends upon the angle of the overprint. When a square surface is being printed it may, before being angularly overprinted to produce pattern, be returned to the block at right angles thereto and over-printed to produce the coloured bands at right angles. In Figure 2 the three over-printed right angled bands produced are indicated by the letters D, E, F. The surface now obviously possesses a different colour arrangement and may now be returned to the block at an angle thereto to obtain a patterned effect. Obviously a multi-coloured surface may be over-printed by another block having any other desired arrangement of lines. The variations in colour effects and patterns obtained are innumerable from a few different arrangements of lines.v A multi-colour printed and/or patterned surface may be embossed with appropriate lines to introducefurther pattern, colour effects andapparent movement or colour change.

From the foregoing it will be clear that unlimited novel patterns may be easily andcheaply produced, particularly in printing, by overprinting coloured parallel or sufficiently parallel lines, whether continuous or dotted or interrupted, or lines of devices or shapes, with substantially parallel lines of the same or other contour and/or pitch or distance apart in such relationship that a patterned effect as distinct from a mere lined appearanceV is obtained and colours may in some circumstances appear to be present which are not in fact printed. Or a lined surface may be embossed with suitable lines in lieu of or in addition to over-printing to obtain a changing effect and pattern when the surface is viewed angularly, and variation in the relationship of the printed and/or between the printed and embossed lines will cause different patterns and colour effects to result. Embossing with parallel lines of the same cont-our and pitch as one of the series of lines used in producing a printed pattern will affect that series and provide a more' pronounced pattern based on those lines. ,A1,- though, as previously pointed out, the method of producing patterns by over-printing substantially parallel lines with substantially parallel lines enables almost unlimited different patterns to be produced from a few printers blocks, which is particularly useful in producing cartons and the like at low cost, embossing a line patterned surface with substantially parallel lines possessing desired contour, pitch or other characterization adds remarkably to the patterning effectsv and imparts apparent movement when angularly viewed by, in eifect, separating the colours at the interpositional points of interference of the lines. Embossing in accordance with the invention has the effect of imparting another pattern which becomes apparent when the surface is Viewed angularly whereas over-printing with the same arrangement of lines as an embossment produces the pattern at front view only at which viewpoint it is invisible when caused by embossing. Patterning by over-printed lines and/or embossment as Vhereinbefore described also' will harmonize what ordinarily would be discordant colours. But, as hereinbefore mentioned, it should be remembered that this additive effect caused by embossing with such an arrangement of lines as will cause further patterning and colour effects and apparent movement may be undesirable in some circumstances, as in theimitation of some knitted goods and textiles. Generally coloured schemes will be produced by so arranging coloured inclined or equivalent surfaces that illustrations, configurations, patterns and colours alter or apparently alter or vary according to the angle from which they are viewed and/or illuminated.

Under some arrangements of colours a haze or glow of complementary colour may be observed and illusive colours appear to be definitely printed as previously explained. When lined patterns are embossed the invention may be widely used or applied. Glass couldl be corrugated, channeled v` and coloured, for example with or without silvered or mirrored portions and with or without portions translucent to Vlight and this could be incorporated in ashing light signs. Theinvention could also be used in conjunction with various electrical or other apparatus as rotating drums,`

heat rotated and otherlar'npshades, coloured or other lighting devices. The invention, therefore, although retaining the specic methods, arrangements and devices hereinbefore described is not to be construed as limitedthereto.

Further, by the methods of embossing according` to the invention the shooting of colours may be effected by printing upon paper and the like, and variegated effects analogous to'those of shot silk, are easily obtained. Theipatterns orfdesigns obtained, the intermingling of the colours, the apparent changes inA direction, the streaks, patches, groups and lateral orother bands of colour vary in number, appearance and direction with the over-printing and number of colours employed and With the angles at Which the lines are crossed and/or the'angle. at which the embossment is applied and AWith variation of the lines and embossments Whether straight, sinuous circular or other conformation and Whether mixed or corresponding in conformation and direction.' Simple examples may be given. Presuming a sheet ofA paper is printed with ne evenly spaced coloured lines of narrow Width and thesheet Yprintedin one single colour, red for example, is impressedwith a rollen'die or embossing block engraved with lines of pyramids orr right angledlines of corrugations (see Figure Z9) of a pitch corresponding with the printed lines, the :embossment being impressed parallel with the printed lines, then the' material willmore nearly resemble a clothlthan paper but vthere will not be variegation. Assume the same printed sheet, however, is embossed with the die at a slight angle or out of aligrrnent With the printed lines. Frontally` it Will not', show variation but Vwhen viewed from either side or end the colouring will appear in red and light bands with a cloth-like texture. Assume a sheet is printed with a second series of lines at a slightl angle and is impressed With a pyramidical or corrugated die or roller, lateralbands will appear frontally in colours formed bythe interznixing of the colours of thevitvvo sets of lines but viewed from either side or end lateral bands of colour will be observed corresponding to the original colours of the lines and whatever colours are lformed by their merging. Assume the lines of the last sheet tobe printed at an angle approximating a vright angle and embossed with a pyramidical die or roller, the increased Yeffects may be observed from any direction. By varying the relationship between the angles of the lines and embossments and the number of colours used beautiful effects may be obtained andthe printed embossed paper resembles a shot fabric. The pyramidical embossment or crossed corrugations upon angularly related printed lines obviously provides variation from any angle or viewpoint. Further, by printingV volute or `concentric lines in various colours, with lines crossed or 'out' of centre and embossing with a pyramidical die, or a circular die, or by printing straight lines "embossed with a circular lined die, or vice versa and by analogous combinations of lines and embossments featherlike effects, wood graining appearances and the like may be obtained, and by arranging sectors of angular lines circularly embossed, or vice versa, movement, as a Wheel turning, will appear to take place.

The invention also may be' applied to obtain apparent expansion, contraction and movement in predetermined designs as in the flames of a re illustration for example wherein yellow, vred and suitable coloured lines'may` be printed into name like contours at desired. angles and'embossed so that apparent movement and desired colour changes are obtained. `Another popular use would be the application of the invention to illustrations of Wood, plumage and other natural subjects Where colour` changes, shot effects and Ythe like exist.

Advantages in printing on paper and the like are alsoobtainable in the preparation of the line printing blocks. A master die may be rst engraved having the requisite number of lines to the inch.. Electro-type printing blocks may be cheaply made from the die. Similarly a master embossing die may be engraved having the requisite number` of corrugations or pyramidical forms. Electro-type embossing blocks may be cheaply made from the die.' By attaching several electrotype blocks together the area or size may be increased or diminished. Obviously the electros may be cut'or` shaped to correspond With desired contours and may be curved in any known manner for attachment to rollers if necessary. The lines may then be printed at angles and in colours and the desired embossment applied at a desired angle, and curved, circular or other lines and embossments may be applied, all as pre-determined if necessary by the trial use of transparent sheets or screens.

Glaswrap and cellophane coverings and Wrappers, particularly for cartons, would be printed by thefline patterning methods'hereinbefore described and usually would not be embossed. Transparent Wrappers when printed with arrangements of spaced lines of open patterns may be used to produce an entirely different external effect both in patterning and colouring to that of the carton or covered article, at small expense. More intricate lace and curtainlike eects present no 'material diiiculty. Cellophane embossed with fine parallel lines or line patterns may be used in some circumstances and arrangements of lines produced by multi-colour printing in one operation but generally any reduction of transparency would beV undesirable. Wrappers of tin foil and other or similar material may, of course, be produced by theV methods hereinbefore described, also crepe paper having apparently changing effects.V

I claim:

l. In the production of variegated surfaces and the like, applying to asurface an arrangement of lines having desiredcharacteristics in contour, color, spacing and the like and embossing the surface With'an arrangement of lines having different geometric characteristics in contour, and in such relationship withl the lines of the surface that the said lines of the surface assume a patterned effect When embossed.

2. In the production of Variegated surfaces and the like, printing a sheet with an arrangement of substantially parallel lines having desired characteristics in contour, color, spacing vand the like, and over-printing the initial lines any desired number of times with arrangements of substantially parallellines having desired characteristics in contour, color, spacing and the like, the initial and over-printed lines being arranged in such relationship that the surface assumes a patterned as distinct from a lined appearance and embossing the patterned surface with an arrangement4 of lines having desired characteristics in contour, spacing and the like and in such relationship with the lines of the surface that apparent movement and changes 4in color andpattern take place as the observer changes his viewpoint or as the em-' bossed surface is moved.

3. In the production of variegated surfaces and the like, printing a sheet with an arrangement of substantially parallel lines, over-printing in desired relationship the initial printingT with an arrangement of substantially parallel lines, and embossing the sheet under heat with substantially parallel lines.

4. In the production of variegated surfaces and the like, printing a sheet With an arrangement of substantially parallel lines, over-printing in desired relationship the initial printing with an arrangement of substantially parallel lines, dampening the sheet and embossing the dampened sheet under heat with substantially parallel lines.

5. In the production of variegated surfaces and the like, printing in a plurality of colors at one operation on a sheet an arrangement of substantially parallel lines having desired characteristics in contour, color, spacing and the like and returning the printed sheet at right angles to the printing device and over-printing in a plurality of colors the initial lines with the same printing device.

6. In the production of variegated surfaces and the like, printing in a plurality of colors at one operation on a sheet an arrangement of substantially parallel lines having desired characteristics in contour, color, spacing and the like and returning the printed sheet at right angles to the printing device and over-printing in a plurality of colors the initial lines with the same printing device and embossing the printed sheet with an arrangement of lines having desired characteristics in contour, spacing and the like.

'7. In the production of variegated surfaces and the like, printing a sheet With an arrangement of substantially parallel lines having desired characteristics in contour, color, spacing and the like and over-printing the initial lines with an embossing device bearing an arrangement of lines having desired characteristics in contour, spacing and the like, the over-printing and embossing being performed in one operation.

8. In the production of variegated surfaces and the like, printing in a plurality of colors at rinting upon each other in appropriate relationship the impressions obtainable from the blocks, to obtain patterned effects uncopiable by ordinary photographic methods without detection.

10. In the production of Variegated surfaces and the like, printing a sheet with an arrangement of substantially parallel lines having desired characteristics in contour, color, spacing and the like, and over-printing the initial lines any desiredmirnber of times with arrangements of substantially parallel lines of desired characteristics in contour, color, spacing and the like, the initial and over-printed lines being printed in such colors and in such relationship that unprinted interstices between the lines appear to be colored.

1l. In the production of variegated surfaces and the like, printing a sheet with an arrangement of substantially parallel lines having desired characteristics in contour, color, spacing and the like, over-printing the initial lines any desired number of times with arrangements of substantially parallel lines of desired characteristics in contour, color, spacing and the like, the initial and over-printed lines being printed n such colors and in such relationship that a patterned eifect is obtained which includes illusory colors apparently but not in reality present, and embossing the patterned surface with an arrangement of lines having desired characteristics in contour, spacing and the like and in such relationship with the lines of the surface that the illusory colors appear to be present and/or disappear with changes of the observers viewpoint or as the embossed surface is moved.

A. E. TAYLOR. 

